Improvement in horse-rakes



R s. cARvRR, on HoNRoYE FALLS, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE-RAKES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 47,519,

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, I. S.' CARVER, of Ho` neoye Falls, in the county of Monroe and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hay-Rakes; andI do hereby declare that the followingy is a full and exact description thereof7 reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specication.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hayrake with my improvement applied thereto;`

Fig. 2, a central vertical section o f the jointrim and a portion of the handle, showing more particularly the arrangement of the operating parts for holding and releasing the rake-head in turning; Fig. 3, a perspective view of a portion of the joint-rim and theupper pawl that connects therewith; Fig. 4, perspective view of the end of the handle that operates with the joint-rim and the pawls connected therewith,

Fig. 5, views of the cam that operates the lower pawl and the ends of theibearings in which it rests.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all` the iigures.

My invention consists, essentially, in an. arrangement of parts whereby the pawls that hold and release the rake-head are inclosed,so as to be removed from danger of clogging by hay, and whereby the rake-head is released to l revolve by merely raising the handle above the ordinary position necessary in ordinary use.

The rake-head A and teeth B are the'sarne as those employed in ordinary rakes of this class, which have a half-revolution at crossing each windrow. On opposite sides of the rakehead, at each end, are situated shoes C C' C C', so arranged as to support the rake-head a little distance above the surface of the ground. Midway of the rake-head, and rigidly secured thereto, is situated a circular rim or wheel, D,

similar in form to a pulley, which I denomi-v nate the j oint-rim,77 since it forms, with the end of the handle, the j oint by which the rake! head turns. This rim is most conveniently made of iron,`in two parts, secured to the rakehead by means of iianges a a, through which "pass screws. Centrally around the joint-rim is made a groove or channel, b, of considerable depth, to allow the pawls to play,'as will be presently described, thus 'leaving iianges or walls c c on each side. In this groove, on opposite sides,fare secured pins or stops d cZ,pro`

dated' May 2, 11865.

ljecting a little distance,` aswshown clearly in of the iirst` and of less depth".` l

passes around the j oint-rim in the saine groove together. y

In the concave end of the handle are situ` in such a manner as to rest behind and engage with the stops d d, as clearly represented in the lower one has a projection, k, atthe rear of sufficient preponderance to `overloalance the 'front end. If desired, however, suitable` springs, of rubber or other material, may be,` I

employed for the purpose of reacting on the pawls.

Itrwill be seen that when the rake-head turns, the stop,in passing under,will` raise the upper pawls, which then falls 'behind it. Its action is thus automatic; but as the action at the under side is the opposite of this, it is necessary to operate the lower pawlin a positive manner;

of the cam is such that when the handle E is it, as indicated by black lines, Fig. 2; but if the ,handle is raisedl a little above theV ordinary position,th`e cam will be turned down,so as to depress the pawl, and therebydisengage it from the stop d, as indicated by red lines.` This action 4is accomplished by the weight still remaining upon the` ground while the handle is raised. y y

I form theendspp of the axis or shaft of the cani into hook shape, as indicated in`Fi`g. 5, and these hooks it in through slots 1' o, of corresponding outline shape, inthe ends of the Figs. 2 and 3. The joint-rim `is also provided l wlth a larger groove vor depressioinf, outside l l The lower end of the handle E is made con-` l cave, as shown at g, Figs. 2 and 4, and this cont cave iits against the joint-rim in the `outer groove or depression, f, while a metallic strap, G, secured to the handle at the points M1., also` thus producing a joint that 'allows the headto turn freely, but still retains the parts rmly l ated two pawls, H I, turning on axes i c', and` i projecting forward into thefcentral groove, b,` y

Fig. 2; These pawls are preferablykept in engagenient with the stops by their own weight, y the upperone turning `on its rear end, while To accomplish this I secure above the pawl, in front of its axis, a cam, Z, whose" laxis or shaft m rests in bearings 'n n, thatextend backward a suitable distance, and are secured to aweight, K, that drags upon the ground.-` The position held atthe ordinaryhcight in raking said cam will rest above the pawl, so as not to act on bearings mz. In the act of applying the hooks one is iirst inserted by a turning motion of the axis, and when the latter is brought in line the other passes through, and the bearings a a are tlien attached to the drag-Weight. Vhen the axis is thus fixed in place it cannot turn, and the simplicity and cheapness with which it is applied forms its chief value.

There lare several advantages in the employment of the devices above described. The paWls are covered and perfectly inclosed by the straps G, so that they are-not only protected from the Weather and from breakage and disarrangeinent; but, also, niost important, they cannot become clogged by hay or any other impediment. This I regard as the niost,

prominent advantage of my invention. In all other devices'with which' I ain acquainted the pawls project outside the handle, and when opened to allow the rake-head to turn, they become obstructed with hay'in such a degree as to cause much difficulty, requiring the frequent stopping of the team to 'free them. I obviate all difficulty of this kind; The inclosing of the pawls also obviates the danger of lsecure by Letters Patent, is-

Inclosing the paWls H I-in the groove b of the joint-rini D by ine-ans of the strap G in such `ainanner as to prevent obstruction, said strap also serving to form the joint and retain the parts together, and usedn connection with a single handle, E,= the Whole arranged, combined, and operating substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

r. s. CARVER.

Vitnesses: A

M. C. Davis, J. B. Yomcs. 

